AU638140B2 - Improved profile bar lock - Google Patents

Description

6 3 n j 1- FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) Class Int.

Class Application Number: Lodged: PK 0916 29th June, 1990

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Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: VALDA KLARIC

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*r *i 0 CC C Address of Applicant: Space Display Systems Pty. Ltd.

165 City Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205, Australia Actual Inventor: VALDA KLARIC Address for Service: WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS, THE ATRIUM, 290 BURWOOD ROAD, HAWTHORN, VICTORIA 3122, AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "IMPROVED PROFILE BAR LOCK" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

2- IMPROVED PROFILE BAR LOCK This invention relates to locks particularly locks for fitment to extruded slotted profile bars of the type described in earlier Australian Patent Nos. 552,608 and 593,372 both in the name of Dinko Klaric.

In both specifications there is disclosed a locking device for fitment to a slotted profile bar (128) inclu-ing a bearing housing (117) a movable coupling hook ki02) a.id a fixed slot engaging member (122) mounted within the housing for interconnection ith the slotted profile bar (128), the isheeT r^I coupling hook body member (100) being slidably associated with a rotatable eccentric pin (11 and extending from said bearing housing to allow interconnection with a slot (127) in said profile bar, said eccentric pin (111) being config- 15 ured so that upon rotation the coupling hook (102) moves into the slot to positively lock in the slot in conjunction with the fixed slot engaging member (122). herein referred to as a locking device as hereinbefore defined.

The rotatable eccentric pin (11) is prevented from *o 20 turning beyond a limit position during a locking movement as best shown in Figures 2 and 4 of this specification by engagement of the component (114) of pin (111,) between the surfaces (110 and 108). Further details of the construction of the locking device are fully described in patent specification No. 593,372 and furthermore will be described in more 25 detail later.

The present invention sets out to prevent possible damage to the lock structure caused by forced overturning of the pin relative to the body member (100) during an unlock- .3 ing movement.

30 There is provided according to the present invention in the locking device hereinbefore defined having a holdingX means (110) on said body member (100) engageable with part of said rotatable eccentric pin in operation, the improvement comprising resistance means acting to restrict but not prevent relative movement of said pin and said holding means during said engagement.

3 Conveniently the resistance means includes interengaging ramp means on either or both the pin and the holding means.

The housing member (117) includes an opening such as a slot (117a) to accommodate movement of the eccentric part of the pin through a complete rotation.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 to 4 show the prior art locking assembly as previously mentioned and fully described in patent specification Nos.

552,608 and 593,372.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are side plan and end views of the .modified holding member.

SFigures 8 to 10 are plan side and underneath views of a modified pin member.

S. Figure 11 is a plan perspective view of the locking assembly.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the prior art the bearing housing (117) is of generally rectangular shape 20 with a cross-section adapted to accommodate the holding member metal strip (100) slidably held therein under the influence of rotation of the eccentric pin (111).

The holding member includes a front end with a rearwardly bent hook (102) and a pair of resilient tongues 25 (104) flanking the centre section to resiliently contact the S 25 wall of the housing member (117).

The holding member has flanges (110 and 108) which are in frictional contact with the eccentric surface or disc (114) of the eccentric pin (111).

30 Upon rotation of the eccentric pin the sheet metal holding member (100) is reciprocated within the housing to perform a locking function in a slotted profile bar not shown. Having reference to Figures 5 to 10 there is shown modified forms of the sheet metal holding member and eccentric pin as shown wherein the flange (110) includes a resistance means such as a chamfered portion (ll0a) and the eenri (130) of the eccentric pin (oa) includes a eccentric'ieg (130) of the eccentric pin (111) includes a 4 chamfered portion (130a) as shown best in Figures 9 and In the prior locking mechanism previously mentioned it has been found that whilst turning of the eccentric pin (111), during an unlocking movement of the locking member, it is possible to force the eccentric pin journal (130) past the flange (110) on the sheet metal holding member (100) which usually results in deformation and irreversible damage to the lock components.

The present invention seeks to provide a modified construction on the holding member and eccentric pin by providing a ramp surface or chamfered surface (130a and Oa) on the eccentric pin journal (130) and holding member flange(I 10) that in use the eccentric pin can turn beyond its normal limit when the chamfered portions (110a and 130a) engage with one another so that the eccentric pin can turn beyond its normal position without damage to the inter- relating components and without adversely affecting the positive locking function of the locking member.

Accordingly, whilst the locking and unlocking of the lock requires approximately a half turn of the eccentric pin, if in fact the locking pin is inadvertently turned back beyond half a turn, no damage can be caused to the unlocking mechanism by virtue of the ramp surfaces (110a and 130a) that are provided. That is if the eccentric pin journal (130) is inadvertently turned beyond its normal unlocking position it is free to turn but without any damage. This is considered to be an important feature of the present 20 invention since comparatively high force can be exerted on the components by tradesmen with consequentdamage to the components in locks where the ramp surface has not been incorporated.

*A further modification is proposed to the bearing housing (117) by providing a slot (117a) on each side of the housing to allow movement of the eccentric pin journal (130) through a complete turn without damage to the bearing housing (117) or the eccentric pin (111).

Claims (3)

1. In the locking device of the kind for fitment to a slotted profile bar (128) including a bearing housing (117) a movable coupling hook (102) and a fixed slot engaging member (122) mounted within the housing for interconnection with the slotted profile bar (128), the coupling hook sheet metal body member (100) being slidably associated with a rotatable eccentric pin (111) and exending from said bearing housing to allow interconnection with a slot (127) in said profile bar, said eccentric pin (111) being configured so that upon rotation the coupling hook (102) moves into the slot to positively lock in the slot in conjunction with the fixed slot engaging member (122) having a holding means on said coupling hook sheet metal body member (100) engageable with part of said rotatable eccentric pin (111) in operation, the improvement comprising resistance means acting to restrict but not prevent relative movement of said pin and said holding means during said engagement.

2. The improvement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resistance means includes interengaging ramp means on either or both the pin and the holding means.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locking device is accommodated in a housing member which includes an opening slot means adapted to accommodate movement of the eccentric part of the eccentric pin through a complete rotation without damage to the housing member. DATED this 1st day of April, 1993 VALDAKLARIC WATERMARK PATENT STRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD, HAWTHORN, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. *go o